Spurs hold off Jazz to open West finals
(AP)<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_sp_bk_ga_su/bkn_jazz_spurs"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070520/capt.58be1483dcae485cabb8892afbc63f5f.jazz_spurs_basketball_txeg103.jpg?x=128&y=130&sig=gLNRgGEFVgEpbPaCSSKueA--" align="left" height="130" width="128" alt="San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20), of Argentina, is defended by Utah Jazz forward Matt Harpring (15) during the first quarter of their Western Conference Finals NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, May 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)" border="0" /></a>AP - With three NBA championship flags high above the court, and many of the key players from those title teams in the lineup, the San Antonio Spurs opened the Western Conference finals like a team ready to add to their collection. Well, for most of Game 1.</p><br clear="all"/>

Rookie gives Yankees a much-needed lift
(AP)<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_sp_ba_ga_su/bbo_yankees_mets"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070521/capt.c48fe4c95ba042f087286d992ae81611.yankees_mets_baseball_nyeb106.jpg?x=130&y=102&sig=52InK0cnq97vntnEAyWwCw--" align="left" height="102" width="130" alt="New York Yankees' Tyler Clippard delivers a pitch to a New York Mets batter during the second inning of their baseball game, Sunday, May 20, 2007 at Shea Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Ed Betz)" border="0" /></a>AP - Tyler Clippard beat all his new teammates to the Yankees clubhouse and quickly changed in a makeshift locker. He spent the next four hours watching the "Bad News Bears," checking text messages, adjusting his headphones, flipping a ball to himself and wandering into the dugout.</p><br clear="all"/>

Staring at loss, Ducks overtake Detroit
(AP)<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_sp_ho_ga_su/hkn_ducks_red_wings"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070520/capt.758d516fcab2425f98a0dbcecd12112f.ducks_red_wings_hockey_mico124.jpg?x=103&y=130&sig=MPP6hC_KRSgl3FsllYOq6g--" align="left" height="130" width="103" alt="Anaheim Ducks right winger Teemu Selanne of Finland, center, celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime with teammates Andy McDonald (19) and Francois Beauchemin (23) in Game 5 of the NHL Western Conference hockey finals against the Detroit Red Wings, Sunday, May 20, 2007 in Detroit. The Ducks won 2-1 to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. (AP Photo/Jerry Mendoza)" border="0" /></a>AP - The Anaheim Ducks were within a minute of losing a game that could've led to the end of their season. In overtime, Teemu Selanne had a split-second to decide what to do with the puck. He made the right choice.</p><br clear="all"/>

Zach Johnson gets another win in Georgia
(AP)<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_sp_go_su/glf_at_t_classic"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070520/capt.7b61890ad78b426f9b38a5a9bca209af.att_classic_golf_gajb107.jpg?x=96&y=130&sig=cP.JdfIiahgQ8hPC1_7Hmw--" align="left" height="130" width="96" alt="Zach Johnson kisses his four-month-old son, Will, after defeating Ryuji Imada in a one-hole playoff to win the AT&T Classic golf tournament in Duluth, Ga., Sunday, May 20, 2007. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)" border="0" /></a>AP - Zach Johnson is two-thirds of the way to the Georgia Slam. OK, no such achievement exists, but anything seems possible for the Masters champion in the Peach State. "Yeah, I'm not sure what it is," he said. "You know, for whatever reason, I've had success here."</p><br clear="all"/>

Angels leave Dodgers in the slow lane
(AP)<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_sp_ba_ga_su/bbo_dodgers_angels"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070520/capt.161a2a803310495aa254496c78c61530.dodgers_angels_baseball_cama106.jpg?x=103&y=130&sig=WOvRDonnGmvz8AcVgbPVjg--" align="left" height="130" width="103" alt="After making the throw to first for the double play, Los Angeles Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera, top, leaps over Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent at second base in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)" border="0" /></a>AP - Kelvim Escobar has been terrific in three of his last four starts, allowing only 16 hits and one run in 24 innings. In the one bad outing, he gave up eight hits and eight runs &#151; six earned &#151; in 2 1-3 innings. Escobar's explanation? Well, he doesn't have one.</p><br clear="all"/>

Spurs beat Jazz to win Western Conference opener
(Reuters)<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070521/sp_nm/nba_dc"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20070521/2007_05_20t194010_450x311_us_nba.jpg?x=130&y=89&sig=AYI5cyBadZPCZlc5lnp9rQ--" align="left" height="89" width="130" alt="San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili (R) and Utah Jazz forward-center Carlos Boozer go to the hoop during Game 1 of their NBA Western Conference Final playoff basketball series in San Antonio, Texas May 20, 2007. (Eric Gay/Pool/Reuters)" border="0" /></a>Reuters - The San Antonio Spurs held off a
fourth-quarter rally by the Utah Jazz to win their Western
Conference finals opener 108-100 on Sunday.</p><br clear="all"/>

Real Madrid stays atop Spanish league
(AP)<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_sp_so_ga_su/soc_euro_rdp"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070520/capt.mf80405201819.spain_soccer_mf804.jpg?x=130&y=103&sig=jI.NMXxcZ5_OwcTX9y67lg--" align="left" height="103" width="130" alt="Real Madrid player Mahamadou Diarra, left, duels for the ball with Recreativo Huelva Player Antonio Jesus Vazquez during their Spanish League soccer match at the Colombino stadium in Huelva, southern Spain, Sunday, May 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)" border="0" /></a>AP - Roberto Carlos scored in injury time and gave Real Madrid a 3-2 win against Recreativo Huelva on Sunday to keep it atop the Spanish league with three rounds remaining.</p><br clear="all"/>

Senators edge Sabres for spot in finals
(AP)<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070520/ap_on_sp_ho_ga_su/hkn_senators_sabres"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070519/capt.7537c65a78984c6fa4ec3f71ff414300.senators_sabres_hockey_nydd116.jpg?x=130&y=92&sig=wIfzEHpPQTfXFNNiORG5rQ--" align="left" height="92" width="130" alt="Ottawa Senators celebrate after Daniel Alfredsson scored the game winning goal on Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller in overtime of the NHL hockey playoff game at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, May 19, 2007. The Senators won 3-2. (AP Photo/David Duprey)" border="0" /></a>AP - Leave it to Daniel Alfredsson &#151; the Ottawa Senators' captain and longest serving player &#151; to score the biggest goal in team history. With one clutch shot at 9:32 of overtime, Alfredsson ended a decade's worth of frustration by sending the Senators to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time.</p><br clear="all"/>

A California congressman has joined the cause against Michael Vick, firing off a letter Friday that urged NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to "act swiftly and forcefully" if the Atlanta Falcons quarterback was involved in dog fighting on his former property. U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) pointed out that he's a senior member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which two years ago held...

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Jets KR Miller arrested for assault (AP)New York Jets kick returner Justin Miller was arrested early Sunday and charged with third-degree assault after a fight at a New York City nightclub. "I want to apologize to everyone for this situation, including my family, my teammates, the Jets organization, our fans and the entire NFL," the cornerback said in a statement released by the team Sunday night.

Former Lions lineman Gonzaga dies at 74 (AP)Former Detroit Lions lineman John Gonzaga, who was working in a steel mill when he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers in 1956, has died. He was 74. Gonzaga died Thursday at his home in the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield Township, according to the Lions and McCabe Funeral Home in Farmington Hills.

Brett Favre slammed both hands on the podium, wanting to be clear: He never suggested he couldn't win with this current group of Packers. The Green Bay quarterback was trying to defuse a week's worth of comments. And while he was frustrated the Packers did not trade for Randy Moss, Favre said during minicamp Friday this was no knock on his teammates.

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Tank ready for Goodell's punishment (AP)Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson said Friday he's ready to accept whatever punishment NFL commissioner Roger Goodell gives him for his recent off-field problems that included a two-month stint in jail. "I feel like whatever sanction he imposes, I'm man enough to take it and I know that once I get back on the field, that chapter of my life is closed and I can move on with a sense of...

If Ricky Williams makes a comeback, it most likely will be with a new team. Miami Dolphins coach Cam Cameron, speaking publicly about Williams' latest drug relapse for the first time, said nothing has changed regarding the suspended running back's status. But several Dolphins said they're ready to play without Williams, and Cameron acknowledged it's difficult to salvage the careers of troubled...

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Bears LB Briggs no-show at minicamp (AP)Disgruntled Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs was a no-show as expected Friday when the Chicago Bears opened a three-day minicamp. In March, the Bears tagged Briggs as their franchise player, prompting him to threaten a holdout, at first for the entire season and then for 10 games so he could report for the final six to qualify as serving one year as a franchise player.

With three NBA championship flags high above the court, and many of the key players from those title teams in the lineup, the San Antonio Spurs opened the Western Conference finals like a team ready to add to their collection. Well, for most of Game 1. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker were terrific for three quarters, then good enough at the end to carry San Antonio to a 108-100 victory...

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Cavs earned Pistons' respect last year (AP)When threatened, the Detroit Pistons are at their best. Too much cockiness usually doesn't work for the Pistons because it lulls them into a false sense of security, leading to 1-on-1 moves and lackluster effort on defense and the glass. Detroit plays up to its vast potential by sharing the ball, defending with passion and rebounding aggressively.

Jazz lose 17th straight in San Antonio (AP)Utah coach Jerry Sloan showed more emotion at halftime than he thought his team had in the first half. "I told them they got to learn to compete. I mean, we were shaking our head at each other," Sloan said after the Jazz lost 108-100 on Sunday in Game 1 of their Western Conference finals with the San Antonio Spurs.

Suns' Iavaroni meets with Grizzlies (AP)Phoenix Suns assistant coach Marc Iavaroni said Saturday that he has had an informal meeting with Memphis owner Michael Heisley about the Grizzlies' vacant head coaching position. "I had a nice dinner conversation with Michael Heisley and got to know him better and really liked what I heard," Iavaroni said.

Suns wonder what could have been (AP)This season, with its bitter end, will be hard for the Phoenix Suns to let go. "It will always be one to think of 'What if?"' Steve Nash said. The Suns gathered for a team meeting and to clear out their lockers on Saturday, only a few hours after they were eliminated by the Spurs 114-106 in San Antonio.

The versions of events between the Houston Rockets' first-round playoff loss and Jeff Van Gundy's firing are slightly different, depending on which side is telling the story. Van Gundy was dismissed on Friday, two weeks after the team lost to the Jazz 103-99 in Game 7. The 45-year-old Van Gundy had one season left on a nonguaranteed contract.

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Report: Raptors, Mitchell agree to deal (AP)NBA coach of the year Sam Mitchell agreed to a new contract with the Toronto Raptors on Friday, The Canadian Press reported. The Canadian Press, citing an unidentified source close to the negotiations, said the official announcement could come as early as Tuesday. The 43-year-old Mitchell was selected the NBA coach of the year last month after leading the Raptors to a 47-35 record.

Union chief supports Crawford's return (AP)NBA union chief Billy Hunter said that the players would support the reinstatement of referee Joey Crawford, who was suspended after he was accused of trying to pick a fight with Tim Duncan during a game. "We hated to see Joey get canned," Hunter told a sports lawyers' convention on Saturday. "I think in all probability Joey will be back.

Carter's status key to Nets offseason (AP)When the game is on the line, Vince Carter wants the ball and the fate of the New Jersey Nets in his hands. That won't change heading into the offseason as Carter decides whether to test the free agent market or to stick around for another year with Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson. "I don't want to talk about it now, but I definitely see myself (coming back)" Carter said after the Nets were...

LeBron says pregnant girlfriend is fine (AP)LeBron James said his pregnant girlfriend was fine Friday, two days after she was taken to the hospital during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Cleveland. Savannah Brinson, expecting the couple's second child next month, left Wednesday night's game at halftime. James said he was told of her situation and was "a little concerned, of course," and was updated throughout the game.

The Anaheim Ducks were within a minute of losing a game that could've led to the end of their season. In overtime, Teemu Selanne had a split-second to decide what to do with the puck. He made the right choice. Selanne scored 11:57 into the extra period and lifted Anaheim to a 2-1 comeback win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday and a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.

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Sens' Cup run has big impact on Ottawa (AP)Now that he's finally coaching in the Stanley Cup finals, perhaps Bryan Murray will have enough pull to avoid waiting in line for a dinner table in Ottawa. During the Senators' five-game Eastern Conference finals win over Buffalo, Murray told the story of how he was unable to get into a restaurant in the hockey-mad city's popular Byward Market area.

Sabres facing uncertain summer (AP)Since the first day of training camp in September, Chris Drury and Daniel Briere -- the Buffalo Sabres co-captains -- wore the mantra on their chests in the form of a simple T-shirt. "One team. One goal," the shirt read next to a picture of the Stanley Cup. That goal is gone, at least for this season and this team.

Senators in first Cup finals...sort of (AP)Some would say it has taken Ottawa 15 years to reach the Stanley Cup finals, while others will argue it's really been an 80-year wait. However you slice it, the NHL's ultimate playoff series is returning to the Canadian capital for the first time since 1927, and the league's second edition of the Senators are in position to claim their first championship.

Lightning give Holmqvist one-year deal (AP)Free agent goaltender Johan Holmqvist re-signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. The 29-year-old native of Sweden, who signed a one-year contract, replaced Marc Denis as the starting goalie late this season and was in net for all six games of the Lightning's first-round playoff series loss to the New Jersey Devils.

Sens offer assaulted Sabres fan tickets (AP)The Ottawa Senators want to make things right for a Buffalo Sabres fan who was assaulted after the team's most recent home game. Cyril Leeder, the Senators chief operating officer, said Friday the team has offered tickets to Renee Luck after learning the Buffalo woman was repeatedly punched in the face following the Sabres' 3-2 win in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday.

Flyers, Kukkonen agree to two-year deal (AP)Lasse Kukkonen agreed to a two-year contract with Philadelphia on Thursday, the third free agent the Flyers have signed in the last week. Kukkonen had five goals and 14 points in 74 games for the Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks last season. The defenseman led all NHL rookies in blocked shots with 151.

Bergmeister, Long win at Laguna Seca (AP)Jorg Bergmeister and Patrick Long won the U.S. Sports Car Invitational on Sunday at Laguna Seca, giving the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series a record five different winners in five races. Co-driving the No. 23 Alex Job Racing Porsche Crawford with Long, Bergmeister claimed the lead from Jon Fogarty on lap 60 of the 91-lap race, but the defending Grand-Am Daytona Prototype champion was in danger of...